| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.15 |
| Liaison | Emma Blandford |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
Georgia Institute of Technology
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 3.00 |
Emma
Blandford Portfolio Manager Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies
No
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
---
The policies, guidelines or directives:
---
Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Yes
Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA less comprehensively, e.g. for certain types of systems or projects and not others
A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Georgia Tech’s Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S) has LCCA guidelines. These are employed in some cases when evaluating energy and water-using products and systems.
The Infrastructure and Sustainability Architectural and Engineering Design Standards (Georgia Tech "Yellow Book") outlines non-mandatory design guidelines for all new construction and renovations.
Specification 23001 - Mechanical General and Design outlines the following statement under "System Evaluation":
"System designs shall be evaluated by the design team on the basis of total owning and operating cost over a twenty (20) year period, not energy or capital cost alone. Life Cycle Cost Analysis vs. construction cost shall be compared and presented to Georgia Tech for evaluation."
Specification 018113 - Sustainable Design Requirements – Also includes the following:
“In accordance with section E, a detailed energy simulation, abiding by section 230002: 8.01, shall be developed to show the as-designed construction of the new or renovated building projects. The proposed design shall indicate the predicted Energy Use Intensity (EUI) the design will be delivering when the building is occupied. Designers shall provide Life Cycle Cost analysis for energy and water efficiency as required in Yellow Book Section 010001 “General Requirements.” Designers are responsible for accurate estimates of expected operation, control and use as specified by Georgia Tech Facilities departments. Further comparisons of said model will be used to evaluate actual performance and performance over a monitored period as described in the measurement and verification report.”
https://facilities.gatech.edu/system/files/forms_files/Yellowbook-202204.pdf
The Infrastructure and Sustainability Architectural and Engineering Design Standards (Georgia Tech "Yellow Book") outlines non-mandatory design guidelines for all new construction and renovations.
Specification 23001 - Mechanical General and Design outlines the following statement under "System Evaluation":
"System designs shall be evaluated by the design team on the basis of total owning and operating cost over a twenty (20) year period, not energy or capital cost alone. Life Cycle Cost Analysis vs. construction cost shall be compared and presented to Georgia Tech for evaluation."
Specification 018113 - Sustainable Design Requirements – Also includes the following:
“In accordance with section E, a detailed energy simulation, abiding by section 230002: 8.01, shall be developed to show the as-designed construction of the new or renovated building projects. The proposed design shall indicate the predicted Energy Use Intensity (EUI) the design will be delivering when the building is occupied. Designers shall provide Life Cycle Cost analysis for energy and water efficiency as required in Yellow Book Section 010001 “General Requirements.” Designers are responsible for accurate estimates of expected operation, control and use as specified by Georgia Tech Facilities departments. Further comparisons of said model will be used to evaluate actual performance and performance over a monitored period as described in the measurement and verification report.”
https://facilities.gatech.edu/system/files/forms_files/Yellowbook-202204.pdf
Part 3. Product-specific sustainability criteria
To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products and/or services in each category, e.g. by requiring or giving preference to multi-criteria sustainability standards, certifications and labels appropriate to the category. Broader, institution-wide policies should be reported in Part 1, above.
Chemically intensive products and services
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Georgia Tech has a robust green cleaning program. The criteria for chemically intensive products and services (cleaning products) are published in the Green Cleaning Manual.
● https://facilities.gatech.edu/green-cleaning
● https://facilities.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/images/git_green_cleaning_manual.pdf
The document explicitly states preference for materials that are non-toxic, have reduced packaging, or meet the following third-party standards.
PAGE 7-8:
“A minimum of 30% of all annual purchases of cleaning products (by cost) must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
● Green Seal GS-37: General purpose, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners used for industrial and institutional purposes
● Environmental Choice CCD-110: Cleaning and Degreasing compounds
● Environmental Choice CCD-146: Hard Surface Cleaners
● Environmental Choice CCD-148: Carpet and Upholstery Care Disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes, strippers or other products not addressed by the above standards must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
● Green Seal GS-40: Industrial and Institutional Floor Care Products
● Environmental Choice CCD-112: digestion additives for cleaning and odor control
● Environmental Choice CCD-113: Drain or grease trap additives
● Environmental Choice CCD-115: Odor control additives
● Environmental Choice CCD-147: Hard Floor Care
● California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category
To identify products which meet these requirements, the following websites may be helpful:
● www.environmentalchoice.com
● www.greenguard.org
● www.greenseal.org
Purchases of both compliant and noncompliant products will be tracked for program evaluation.”
● https://facilities.gatech.edu/green-cleaning
● https://facilities.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/images/git_green_cleaning_manual.pdf
The document explicitly states preference for materials that are non-toxic, have reduced packaging, or meet the following third-party standards.
PAGE 7-8:
“A minimum of 30% of all annual purchases of cleaning products (by cost) must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
● Green Seal GS-37: General purpose, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners used for industrial and institutional purposes
● Environmental Choice CCD-110: Cleaning and Degreasing compounds
● Environmental Choice CCD-146: Hard Surface Cleaners
● Environmental Choice CCD-148: Carpet and Upholstery Care Disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes, strippers or other products not addressed by the above standards must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
● Green Seal GS-40: Industrial and Institutional Floor Care Products
● Environmental Choice CCD-112: digestion additives for cleaning and odor control
● Environmental Choice CCD-113: Drain or grease trap additives
● Environmental Choice CCD-115: Odor control additives
● Environmental Choice CCD-147: Hard Floor Care
● California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category
To identify products which meet these requirements, the following websites may be helpful:
● www.environmentalchoice.com
● www.greenguard.org
● www.greenseal.org
Purchases of both compliant and noncompliant products will be tracked for program evaluation.”
Consumable office products
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
---
Furniture and furnishings
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
---
Information Technology (IT) and equipment
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
---
Food service providers
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
Third party food and beverage sales permit holders at Georgia Tech are required to agree to certain criteria including prioritizing sustainable expenditures on food and minimizing packaging and food waste. Contract language is included below:
“Sustainability Standards
● Local and Community Based and/or Third Party Certified Sustainable Food and Beverage:
● The Permit Holder will work with the Institute to meet Georgia Tech’s commitment to its long-term, 2027 local and community based and/or third party certified sustainable food and beverage goal by prioritizing food and beverage expenditures that meet these characteristics. The Permit Holder will use criteria outlined at the following website https://sustain.gatech.edu/georgia-tech-sustainability-criteria-dining-operations to define and formulate their plan. The Permit Holder may also prioritize expenditures with women and/or minority owned businesses.
● The Permit Holder is required to label products as applicable with organically certified, locally grown, or third-party certification.
● The Permit Holder is required to track expenditures on products that meet criteria outlined in the AASHE/stars Food and Beverage and Sustainable Dining Services Credits and report on a yearly basis by July 15th to the Sustainability Specialist in Tech Dining.
● Food and Packaging Waste Diversions
● The Permit Holder will recycle all eligible packaging from food preparation (e.g., cardboard delivery boxes, aluminum cans, food packaging).
● The Permit Holder will utilize products (e.g., plates, bowls, cups, to-go containers,) in food service and catering that are compostable. Permit Hodler will work with Sustainability Specialist and/or the Office of Campus Sustainability to identify acceptable food service products if compostable options are not available.
● The following items are prohibited:
● Styrofoam
● Containers and/or vessesl that are made of two or more materials (e.g., cardboard containers with plastic film windows): and
● All materials that cannot be recycled or composted.
● The Permit Holder will implement policies to minimize the use of single-use plastics or other materials. For example, the vendor will prioritize the use of bulk condiments.
● The Permit Holder should work with a camps or other local food pantry to donate as much of their remaining food inventory as feasible, when those inventory items would otherwise have been discarded.“
“Sustainability Standards
● Local and Community Based and/or Third Party Certified Sustainable Food and Beverage:
● The Permit Holder will work with the Institute to meet Georgia Tech’s commitment to its long-term, 2027 local and community based and/or third party certified sustainable food and beverage goal by prioritizing food and beverage expenditures that meet these characteristics. The Permit Holder will use criteria outlined at the following website https://sustain.gatech.edu/georgia-tech-sustainability-criteria-dining-operations to define and formulate their plan. The Permit Holder may also prioritize expenditures with women and/or minority owned businesses.
● The Permit Holder is required to label products as applicable with organically certified, locally grown, or third-party certification.
● The Permit Holder is required to track expenditures on products that meet criteria outlined in the AASHE/stars Food and Beverage and Sustainable Dining Services Credits and report on a yearly basis by July 15th to the Sustainability Specialist in Tech Dining.
● Food and Packaging Waste Diversions
● The Permit Holder will recycle all eligible packaging from food preparation (e.g., cardboard delivery boxes, aluminum cans, food packaging).
● The Permit Holder will utilize products (e.g., plates, bowls, cups, to-go containers,) in food service and catering that are compostable. Permit Hodler will work with Sustainability Specialist and/or the Office of Campus Sustainability to identify acceptable food service products if compostable options are not available.
● The following items are prohibited:
● Styrofoam
● Containers and/or vessesl that are made of two or more materials (e.g., cardboard containers with plastic film windows): and
● All materials that cannot be recycled or composted.
● The Permit Holder will implement policies to minimize the use of single-use plastics or other materials. For example, the vendor will prioritize the use of bulk condiments.
● The Permit Holder should work with a camps or other local food pantry to donate as much of their remaining food inventory as feasible, when those inventory items would otherwise have been discarded.“
Garments and linens
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
---
Professional service providers
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
---
Transportation and fuels
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
---
Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://facilities.gatech.edu/green-cleaning
https://facilities.gatech.edu/system/files/forms_files/Yellowbook-202204.pdf
https://facilities.gatech.edu/system/files/forms_files/Yellowbook-202204.pdf
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.